Chapter 6

"You ready?" Chuck gave me a million-watt smile, and I couldn't help but laugh. A grin that wide on someone so suave seemed cheesy compared to his typically indifferent expression.

I drew a shaky breath and said, "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Let's do this." He winked in an attempt to calm my nerves, but it just caused the strange flip-flop in my stomach to return. I watched him exit the car when the chauffeur opened the door for him, but he instantly held up his hand to stop the man from making his way to my side of the car. Instead, Chuck opened the door and held out his hand to me. I could smell sea salt in the air as soon as I stepped out of the car, and I quickly smoothed down my hair, praying that it didn't frizz into an embarrassing mess. As I straightened my dress over my legs, Chuck leaned in and whispered, "If you need to ravish me to make this believable, I'm a ready and willing participant."

I let out another laugh, feeling my limbs immediately relax. He laced our fingers together, and I knew that he was doing everything in his power to put me at ease. I glanced up at him through my dark lashes and said with complete sincerity, "Thank you for being here." With a nod, he led me through a row of palm trees to the building's main entrance.

The bohemian resort was exactly what I envisioned when I thought of Serena. The lobby offered an open air concept with long lace ivory drapes hanging from the vaulted ceiling. The turquoise lounge chairs were decorated with coral and navy pillows. Behind the reception desk, large green vinery snaked up the wall around an ornate gold mirror. As tacky as it could've been, it was actually beautifully executed – tasteful yet unconventional. Everything was bright and vibrant, just like Serena. I couldn't help but smile when I thought about my best friend. I really did miss her bubbly laugh that I'd once found annoying. Now, with so much distance between us, it was endearing.

I made my way to the concierge and said, "Two to check in under Waldorf. We're here for the van der Woodsen/Archibald wedding." I felt a pinch in my chest, uttering those words aloud. Chuck's hand made its way to my back as if he could read my thoughts and rubbed small circles into the exposed skin peeking out of my backless dress, but within a few seconds his hand went stock-still and he stiffened beside me. I didn't have a chance to ponder his reaction, though, because the man at the desk was handing me two key cards.

"Here you are, Miss Waldorf," he offered cordially. "Miss van der Woodsen booked the luxury villa for you with private access to a jacuzzi and infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean. We hope that you will enjoy your stay. Please don't hesitate to let us know if there is anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable."

I thanked him and gave our information to the bellhop to transfer our luggage to our room. Serena had mentioned something about booking the most luxurious accommodations for Chuck and me, and, when I looked up the room, I was relieved to find that in addition to the king sized bed, there was a sleeper sofa. I felt a little bad for expecting Chuck to sleep on a sofa bed, but it was the most practical solution. I may be grateful for his attendance, but I require a full night's sleep. Maybe it's selfish, but no one comes between me and my beauty rest.

As we walked away from the front desk, out of the hearing distance of anyone around us, I leaned into Chuck and asked, "What was that reaction about back there?"

He hesitated for a minute before letting out a sigh. "Is your friend marrying Nathaniel Archibald?"

"Yes," I answered slowly, a nagging feeling pulling at my stomach. "Why?"

He stepped away from me and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Promise you won't get mad?"

"Depends on what you're about to say," I gritted my teeth anxiously.

"Well, Nathaniel and I have…history."

Was he serious? Was he being purposefully vague? I wanted to scream at him to just spit out the truth. This kind of information could completely derail my entire fragile plan. "What kind of history?" I demanded.

"Oh, my God!" A familiar shrill voice pierced my ears, and I groaned internally. I would have to get the pertinent details of Chuck's confession later. "Blair!" Serena raced toward me, jumping up and down as she nearly knocked me over with the force of her hug. "You're here!" She drew out her words like a drunk cheerleader, and I saw Chuck scrunch his nose in irritation out of the corner of my eye. I shot him a look of warning, and his expression reverted to passive interest.

I returned Serena's hug, plastering a cheerful smile to my lips. "Oh, Serena!" I cooed, grasping her hand in mine to examine the engagement ring on her finger. I winced slightly at the sight of the Vanderbilt diamond on her slender finger, but I think I hid the sting well beneath my sugary grin. "Wow, it's even more beautiful than I remember," I forced out. "I'm so happy for you."

Serena gave me a radiant smile that was almost enough to quell my fears. She was the closest thing I would ever have to a sister, and I had missed her presence in my life dearly. Her eyes finally turned to focus on Chuck, and she raised an inquisitive eyebrow as if to express her approval. "And you must be Chuck," she reached out her hand to him. "I'm Serena. It's so nice to finally meet you." She emphasized the word 'finally' as if she hadn't just learned of his existence two weeks earlier.

"The pleasure's all mine, Serena." He shook her hand politely before dropping it to pull me closer and press a kiss to my temple. I was shaking internally, but I didn't dare reveal this fact. "Congratulations to you and your groom." I heard a strange tone to his voice when he mentioned Nate, but maybe I was latching onto the worrisome fact that the two somehow knew each other.

"Thank you." Her smile remained unwavering, but a curious sparkle glinted in her eyes, silently warning me that she couldn't wait to get me alone so that she could hear all about Chuck. "I'll let you two get settled in. Dinner's at 8." She leaned in under the guise of giving me another hug and whispered, "I booked the most romantic suite in the place for you two. Well, besides the honeymoon suite, of course. Enjoy!"

Great. Thank God I could banish Chuck to the sofa. I had a feeling that the distance would be much needed. I gave her an anxious nod that I hope communicated some form of excitement instead of apprehension.

Chuck and I walked in silence toward our villa. His change in demeanor still had me on edge, as if I wasn't already on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. When we reached the door, I let out a dramatic huff when the lock wouldn't register the key card. I was close to screaming before Chuck reached out and pulled the card from my trembling hand, accessing the room on the first swipe. Our suitcases were arranged neatly in the closet, and I plopped onto the bed and buried my head in my hands. "How do you know Nate?" I whined.

Chuck sat beside me and said, "When I was nineteen or twenty, I threw these…parties called Lost Weekends. A friend invited him to a few, so we are acquaintances on the most basic level. We never really even spoke, so I don't know why you're freaking out."

"Nope," I shook my head. "Your reaction was too dramatic to be merely acquaintances. What exactly is a 'Lost Weekend'?" I scrunched my nose at the ridiculous title, fairly certain that I already knew what these events entailed.

"I reacted that way because –" He inhaled as I crossed my arms over my chest impatiently. "He probably knows more about my baser tendencies than you would like."

I ground my teeth together as rage surged through my body. This could not be happening. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

"At these parties, we immersed ourselves in ample amounts of alcohol, drugs, and women." He sighed, raking his hands through his hair. "It was a whole weekend of varying degrees of depravity. Nate didn't participate much in any of the more sordid activities; he mostly drank and played poker, but it was my party." A look of severe disapproval remained fixed to my face, and his eyes blazed with fury at my disdain. "You knew who I was when you asked me to come here, Blair. Don't act like it comes as some sort of a surprise. Either accept it or tell me to leave. I won't apologize for who I am."

Something else flashed in his eyes for the briefest moment as he stood up and slammed the door to the bathroom, leaving me sitting on the bed in stunned silence. He was right to an extent, but that didn't appease my anger. I bit the inside of my cheek as tears of frustration pricked the corners of my eyes. I was just as mad at myself as I was at Chuck.

When the bathroom door finally opened, Chuck exited without so much as looking in my direction. He kicked his shoes off in the corner and started untying his bowtie with more force than necessary. He was overreacting, and that made me even angrier than I had been a few minutes earlier. It seemed that we kept going in circles. Things were good for a day or two, and then we would get into an explosive argument. It was exhausting, and I was beginning to question whether it was even worth it to continue with this facade. "I can't do this," I exclaimed, narrowing my eyes at the infuriating man across the room from me.

He looked up, unsurprised. "So, it took a cross country trip for you to remember who I am, and now you're ready to give up?"

"I'm not giving up," I snapped. "This was just a bad idea."

"Don't you think it's a little late to decide it's a bad idea, Blair? Are you always this childish?" His voice was scathing, and I itched to throw something at him.

"Are you always this smug?" I glared at him, and he gave me the most irritating smirk. "I hate you!"

"The feeling's pretty mutual right now." He pulled out a flask and took a quick swig of whatever disgusting liquor sloshed inside. "Like I said, make a decision. I'm here for you…because of you. I had no desire to fly across the country for a week, but I did it because you asked. If I'm not good enough now, then just say so, and I'm out. I won't be your doormat, Blair."

His words stung sharply. Perhaps I was overreacting as well. Maybe my anxiety was making me act like a complete bitch, but I suddenly felt guilty. My reaction wasn't warranted, but I was far too stubborn to apologize or admit fault. I approached him carefully, standing toe-to-toe with him; I reached over and yanked the flask from his hand, choking down the biting liquid in a forceful gulp. "Fine," I relented with a shrug. "But promise me there will be no more surprises."

His characteristic smirk was back, and I wasn't sure if it irritated me this time or not. "I can't promise that, but the promise I can make is that you won't face it alone. We're in this together."

I reluctantly returned his smile as a silent apology. We were a 'we' now. Together. It was an oddly comforting thought. "Come on," I said. "We've got some time before dinner. Let's change and explore the resort."

"The bed looks comfortable," Chuck noted absently as he unbuttoned his shirt. I tried not to stare as he slipped each small button through its corresponding hole.

"Too bad you won't get to find out," I taunted.

"What do you mean?"

"You're not sleeping in that bed. It's all mine." I asserted, daring him to challenge me.

"Then where the hell am I supposed to sleep?" He looked incredulous, like the thought of sleeping separately had never even crossed his mind.

"The sleeper sofa," I said. "Obviously."

"What sofa?"

"The…" I looked around the room. Two oversized chairs sat in the corner around a small table and three bar stools were arranged beneath the counter top, but there was no other functional furniture besides the bed and nightstands. Shit, shit, shit. Could I make him sleep on the floor? That seemed cruel considering all he'd already done for me.

As though he could read my thoughts he spoke up, "If you're really that uncomfortable sharing a bed with me, I'll take the floor." I could see from the expression on his face that he was quite put off by the idea.

I shook my head, "No, we were supposed to have a sofa. Let me talk to Serena and figure out what happened." I picked up my phone and hammered out a quick text: Hey, the villa is beautiful, but I thought there was supposed to be a sofa.

I felt Chuck's hand gently wrench the phone from my grasp before I could hit 'Send.' "You send that message," he said, "And you'll immediately make her suspicious about why we aren't sleeping in the same bed."

"Ugh, you're right," I admitted, chewing on my lip. "How about this?" I grabbed the phone and erased the previous text, replacing it with a new message: Hey, this villa is beautiful. Is this an upgrade from the original suite you sent me? It looks different.

He let out a sigh and nodded. "You're relentless, aren't you?"

I didn't answer, but the very idea of sharing a bed with Chuck made my skin prickle with goose bumps. It was a terrifying thought; it was far too intimate for the precarious nature of our relationship. I sent the message and prayed that there had been some crazy mistake that would land us in more palatable accomodations before nightfall.

I excused myself to the restroom to change into an Alice + Olivia floral sundress with Bottega sandals. I twirled in front of the mirror, sufficiently satisfied with my appearance. It was appropriate to the venue, but this was about as casual as I could get. I twisted my hair into a low chignon in hopes of fighting the humidity and spritzed perfume on my wrists. I carefully reapplied my lip gloss and coated my eyes with a thin layer of mascara.

My phone vibrated on the vanity in front of me, and I scanned the text from Serena, hoping for good news. Oh, it's definitely an upgrade from the executive suite I originally booked for you. ;) The other one didn't have an ocean view or a private jacuzzi. I figured you and Chuck would appreciate the more intimate amenities that the villa offers.

"Dammit!" I swore under my breath, stomping my feet in a ridiculous tantrum. I was really going to have to sleep with Chuck. Oh, God. I sighed and typed out a quick message to Serena: It's perfect. Thank you. Gotta keep up with this stupid charade, I guess.

My phone immediately buzzed with another message: I expect all the juicy details. I just sent back the finger shushing emoji and silenced my phone. I didn't have the energy for her innuendos right now.

I reentered the bedroom to find Chuck dressed in a perfectly tailored cream linen suit with a white button-down underneath. It was such a classic look, but, damn, it fit him well. "You look lovely." His deep voice cut into my thoughts, and I quickly averted my eyes, lest he caught me staring. He would never let me live it down.

"You look…appropriate." I commented dumbly, mentally chiding myself for losing my ability to converse like a normal human being around this man.

"Appropriate?" His eyes danced with amusement.

"Yes," I shrugged nonchalantly. "Linen is appropriate for the beach. Good choice."

He didn't respond, but I swear he stifled a laugh when I turned to grab my clutch. I grasped his hand in mine and pulled him toward the door. "Where do you want to go first?" I asked.

"The bar?" He quirked an eyebrow when I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious. A few drinks before dinner might help you relax and give you a boost of confidence. Here in an hour, we are going to be surrounded by a lot of people who will be very curious about your new relationship."

"Now you're just trying to get me worked up," I groaned.

"Nah, just trying to prepare you. If I was trying to get you worked up, you'd know it." Heat spread through my body, pooling in my cheeks. I had to get control over my reactions to him.

We found a table for two at one of the beach bars, and Chuck motioned the waitress over to order our drinks. I was happy to let him order for us both while I took in my surroundings for the first time. The endless sky was tinged with various shades of pink and orange as sunset approached. I could hear the soft crash of the waves against the sandy shore, and a light breeze swept through the few strands of hair I'd left down to frame my face. It was truly a breathtaking sight, and for a moment, I just soaked it all in. I could almost imagine that all of this was real.

I turned back to find Chuck staring at me with an intensity that jarred my senses. I didn't realize he had been watching me, and it unnerved me. I shifted in my seat, clearing my throat to distract him from his scrutiny. He averted his gaze for a moment as though he needed to recalibrate before turning back to me. "It's really beautiful here."

"I was just thinking the same thing," I agreed. "It's peaceful. I almost feel like I'm actually on vacation."

"Well, isn't it a vacation of sorts?"

"I guess," I shrugged. "I haven't taken a real, relaxing vacation in forever. I focus too much on work for that, I suppose."

"I know the feeling," he commiserated. "I think we just uncovered a new goal for this week. We're going to treat this like an actual retreat."

"I like the sound of that." I accepted my cocktail from the waitress with a smile. "You don't look so relaxed, though," I observed as a scowl fell across Chuck's features. "What's wrong?"

"Seems you have an admirer." He gestured toward the other side of the patio, and my eyes searched out the figure to whom he was referring. I finally found a man sitting by himself, and, yes, he was staring directly at me; actually, leering might be a more accurate description.

"Oh, God," I groaned as recognition registered in my brain. "That's Carter Baizen."

Chuck mulled over the name for a moment, and he narrowed his eyes at the man before dropping his scotch glass to the table top with a thud. "Dammit! It is Baizen."

"Do you know the entire wedding party?" I hissed incredulously.

"Unfortunately, the odds aren't in our favor, it seems," he frowned, throwing back the rest of his scotch. "Why's he watching you like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like he wants to eat you up?" His eyes were cold when he glared back at Carter.

"Carter and I dated briefly before I left for France. It wasn't serious, more of a fling than anything, a rebound from Nate." My eyes fell to Chuck's hands. He gripped the tumbler so tightly that I feared it would shatter from the pressure.

"You dated Carter Baizen?" There was a scathing accusation hidden behind his question, but there was something else in his voice that I couldn't quite distinguish.

"Are you…jealous?" I questioned as he seemed to grow increasingly agitated with each passing minute.

"Jealous? No," he scoffed. "I'm disgusted. Carter Baizen is an insect. I wouldn't think someone like you would give him the time of day."

I laughed, and he shot me a look that sent a shiver down my spine. "Come on." I rolled my eyes. "Carter might be an ass, but he's harmless."

"All the same, I don't like the way he's looking at you."

"So you are jealous?" I teased.

"Hardly. I just don't appreciate another man ogling my girlfriend. Especially when that man is Carter Baizen."

"Fake girlfriend," I corrected.

"Whatever," he growled. "He doesn't know that."

Before I knew what he was doing, he pulled me up from my seat and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. He slowly stroked my cheek, brushing my hair from my eyes. I gasped audibly when I felt his warm lips connect with the pulse point on my neck. "What are you doing?" I whimpered.

"Making sure he knows exactly who you're here with," he murmured against my neck, working his lips in a slow path up the column of my throat. I wanted to be angry at his barbaric display, acting as though he was staking his claim on me, but God, it felt amazing. All coherent thought left my mind, and I closed my eyes, reveling in the feel of his mouth against my skin. I let out a content sigh when his lips brushed my earlobe, his hot breath sending a shiver straight through me. "Do you think he got the message yet?"

"Huh?" I couldn't comprehend his question with his fingers tracing a path up my spine. My entire body was electrified, and I couldn't think of anything except how empty I felt when he finally disentangled himself from my arms. I must've had a strong grip on his hair, I realized in embarrassment.

Chuck reached between us to lace our hands together, and said, "Come on. It's almost time for dinner."

I gulped nervously and followed him toward the restaurant. I could feel Carter's eyes boring into my back, but all I cared about was the heat emanating from the man beside. If I wasn't careful, he'd burn me.

When we were escorted to our table, I took a quick inventory of those in attendance. Serena, Nate, Serena's brother, Eric, and his partner, Jonathan, and their parents sat at the head of the table. On the other side, Kati Farkas, Isabel Coates, and Hazel Williams were each seated with their respective dates. Three incredulous sets of eyes fell on Chuck and me, making no attempt to hide their perusal of my date. I narrowed my eyes at them before quickly remembering my social graces. I leaned in closer to Chuck, and he rested his hand gently against my hip, searing my skin through the light fabric of my dress.

Nate made his way toward us and pulled me into a friendly hug. "It's so good to see you, Blair." I returned his embrace, but surprisingly I felt nothing but fondness for my ex-boyfriend. He turned toward Chuck, and tentatively held out his hand. "Bass, I always knew it would take a miracle to make an honest man out of you. I just never expected that miracle to appear in the form of Blair Waldorf."

Chuck smiled and accepted Nate's outstretched hand. "There's just something about her that I can't resist." He leaned in and kissed my cheek, and part of me lamented the fact that it was just for show. "Congratulations, man."

After a few more minutes of small talk, Nate returned to Serena, and Chuck and I took our seats across from Serena's parents, Lily and William. While I was making introductions, Carter meandered in alone, and I realized that he was the only one without a date. I felt Chuck stiffen beside me, and I could hear his teeth grind together when Carter placed a kiss on my cheek, husking a soft, "You look good, Waldorf" before taking his seat beside Eric, effectively ignoring Chuck. I placed my hand on his thigh beneath the table – a gesture of both reassurance and warning. He stroked his thumb over my knuckles, and I knew that he would refrain from making a scene, despite Carter's obvious attempts to piss him off.

Dinner passed in a uneventful manner. I had expected Chuck to be bombarded with questions about our relationship, but naturally the conversation seemed to revolve around the wedding and the honeymoon. I was in awe of the ease with which Chuck engaged with everyone – except Carter, of course. He was so charismatic and charming that I could almost see heart eyes dancing in Hazel and Isabel's eyes despite the fact that their boyfriends were seated directly beside them. Chuck smoothly shifted through conversations about politics, sports, finances, and entertainment. He never lifted his hand from mine, and I found myself wondering if in another life, we might've been compatible. Maybe if we'd all attended school together, Nate and Chuck could've been friends, and Serena and I, their adoring girlfriends. It was a ridiculous fantasy. I chastised myself for getting caught up in the romantic atmosphere. Chuck Bass was a good actor, but he wasn't one for relationships. I was stupid to even let my mind venture into such dangerous territory.

Around ten, we all said our goodbyes and returned to our rooms. I felt a growing sense of dread the closer we got to the villa. It'd been so long since I'd shared a bed with a man that irrational fears clouded my mind. What if I snore obnoxiously loud? What if I talk in my sleep and humiliate myself?

Chuck used the restroom first, quickly emerging in a pair of silk pajamas. If he didn't look so delectable, I would find his entire ensemble pretentious. Fortunately, I had thought to pack my most modest sleepwear, but it was still a slinky and thin material. I pulled at the silk that clung to my breasts and hips. Chuck had already seen me in a more revealing state of undress on a couple of occasions, so I just needed to suck it up and accept him as my bedmate for the next six nights.

I brushed my teeth for longer than my typical routine, making sure that I eliminated any possibility of halitosis should I find myself too close to Chuck's face at some point throughout the night. I shuddered at the thought. I combed my fingers through my hair and exited the bathroom.

Chuck was already resting beneath the comforter when I made my way to my side of the bed. I hesitated for a moment, chewing on my lip in contemplation. Maybe the floor wouldn't be that uncomfortable if I stacked pillows around me. Chuck sat up with a sigh, and said, "Come on, Blair. I promise not to bite…unless you want me to."

"That's not helping," I hissed irritably, crossing my arms over my chest. I had opted to sleep in a bra so that the outline of my overeager nipples wouldn't be visible, but it was terribly uncomfortable.

"Fine." He pushed the comforter off of his frame. "I'll sleep on the floor."

"No," I sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm being so weird about this. We are two adults who can be civil and share a bed, right?"

"Yes, Blair," he agreed, albeit scornfully, "I am fully capable of controlling myself. Now, I'm tired. Can we please just go to sleep?"

I slipped into bed and immediately turned onto my side facing away from Chuck. I curled my arms around a pillow and willed myself to sleep, but it was useless. I was far too aware of the warm, masculine body a few inches behind me. I silently hoped the coffee here was strong; I was sure to need it in the morning.

A/N: I've been incredibly productive today, so I hope you will accept two updates in one day as a consolation for the long wait. I know that the one bed trope might be a little played out, but it's one of my favorites. I couldn't resist including it in this fic.